PAID College of Business Administration Roskens Hall CBA 414

NON-PROFIT ORG.
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PAID
College of Business Administration
Roskens Hall
CBA 414
6001 Dodge St.
Omaha, NE 68182-0048
The University of Nebraska is an affirmative action/
equal opportunity institution. If you need special
accommodations, please let us know one week in
advance by calling 554-2303 (TTY 554-3799).
OMAHA, NE
PERMIT NO. 301
The
to succeed.
COLLEGE
OF
BUSINESS
ADMINISTRATION
2000 Year-In-Review
2000 Year-In-Review
STRO
The
to succeed.
14-15
STUDENT
INTERNSHIPS
Senior Ike Chima gets a taste
of real-life experience as an
4-5
3
intern at ConAgra Foods.
ALUMNI
FROM THE DEAN
Omaha Postmaster
It’s a powerful time to be part
and recent graduate
EvaJon Sperling gives
of the college — whether
a stamp of approval to
you’re a student, a graduate
the Executive MBA
or a business partner.
program.
8-9
10-11
OUTREACH
INTERNATIONAL CONNECTIONS
The NU Foundation plays a
CBA takes its programs around the world and also
key role in putting donors’
hosts guests from China and the Ukraine.
gifts to work for the college.
21
NBDC
6-7
Businesses across the state are
finding the power of the Web
BUSINESS PARTNERS
through re-Biz and the Nebraska
17 Alegent Health physicians learn the
Business Development Center.
basics of business from CBA’s executive
education program.
The CBA Year-in-Review is produced
by the University of Nebraska at Omaha
College of Business Administration.
ADDRESS CORRESPONDENCE TO
College of Business Administration
Roskens Hall • CBA 414
6001 Dodge St.
Omaha, NE 68182-0048
http://cba.unomaha.edu
Stanley J. Hille, Ph.D.
ASSOCIATE DEAN Louis Pol, Ph.D.
ASSISTANT DEAN Nancy Nogg Rauhauser
CBA WEB SITE
DEAN
2
C
ontribute to the success of future CBA graduates with a
scholarship gift. If you would like to establish a scholarship
or contribute to an existing fund, please contact the CBA
Dean’s office at (402) 554-2303.
NG
START!
We’re proud to announce the recipients of
ACCOUNTING
ADMIS Scholarship
Curtis Johnson
Clint Rushing was 12 years old when his grandfather,
a retired Omaha banker, bought him his first shares in
PepsiCo. Nearly a decade later, Rushing is looking
forward to starting a career in investment banking.
Though his career path may have been determined in
part by his genes, his success during college is the
product of Rushing’s own dedication and hard work.
During the past four years, he has served as president
of the Financial Management Association, vice
president of Delta Sigma Pi, a business fraternity, and
was chosen to be one of 13 UNOmaha ambassadors
to represent the university in 2000-2001.
He’s quick to credit the people who’ve been there to
support him for four years. “The biggest thing is the
First-Year Accounting
Scholarship
Michele Muhlbauer
Melissa Spencer
Wayne Higley/Delta
Sigma Pi Scholarship
Timothy Clark
Tina Reimnitz
Ernest H. Kenyon
Scholarship in
Accounting
Joseph Rewolinski
Nebraska Society of
CPAs Scholarship
Kerry Baumgart
Timothy Clark
Dallas Dlouhy
Tina Reimnitz
Joseph Rewolinski
John Shimkus
Richard E. Prince
Memorial Scholarship
Curtis Johnson
Christopher Stiffler
Beverly Ward Spencer
Scholarship
Beth Martin
quality of the faculty here. The teachers have worked
in the field of what they’re teaching now. That really
helps you as a student to link the classroom to reallife material. They know what they’re talking about —
they’ve been out there, they’ve seen it and they
know how to apply it.”
Finance is an exciting field, Rushing says, and he
looks forward to jumping into the investment arena.
Someday he may even elect to enter politics, with
aspirations of becoming a senator. With his education
background and career experience, he says, he will
have “a good foundation for running fiscal policy.”
His career choice will likely take him to a major U.S.
city, but Rushing says he plans to stay connected to
CBA. “I want to keep ties with the people here. I’ll
help the college in any way I can.”
2000-2001
scholarships awarded by CBA:
Ora C. and Fred B.
Vomacka Memorial
Scholarship
Neil Archibald
Shari Barnes
Mike Bell
Timothy Clark
Dallas Dlouhy
Oscar Garcia
Micki Gorup
Tina Reimnitz
Joseph Rewolinski
John Shimkus
Steve Shepherd
Dawn Stewart
Christopher Stiffler
Carrie Syslo
Andrea Wilson
Gabriela Wulff
Liu Zhongqing
ECONOMICS
James C. Horejs
Scholarship
Nick Caniglia
Bun Song Lee
Scholarship
Yelena Davtzan
Barbara O. Miller
Memorial Scholarship
— Graduate Student
Gwanendra Khadayat
Barbara O. Miller
Memorial Scholarship
— Senior
Ginger Gruber
Barbara O. Miller
Memorial Scholarship
— Junior
Jeremy Passer
Upland Industries
Scholarship
Jeffrey Haase
FINANCE &
BANKING
Robert Benecke
Outstanding Business
Finance Student
Scholarship
Lila Gilliam
Patrick Michael
Cash Management
Association of the
Midlands Scholarship
Justin Brauer
Finance, Banking and
Insurance Excellence
in Education
Scholarship
Michael Asmus
Keisha Aufenkamp
Clint Rushing
Amy Socha
LAW
Lucille Gannon
Scholarship
Darnetta Sanders
MARKETING
Dean John Lucas
Marketing Scholarship
John Happel
Jessica Mangen
Jessica Melby
Angel Randone
MASTERS OF
BUSINESS
ADMINISTRATION
Securities America
MBA Scholarship
Ruth Cuero
Tyler Hughes
Union Pacific MBA
Scholarship
Kristina Eggers
Natalie Manzitto
Deborah Niemann
REAL ESTATE
AND LAND USE
Hollis and Helen
Baright Foundation
Scholarship
Mckayen “Mac”
LaRock
M.C. Biggerstaff
Memorial Scholarship
Nicholas Miner
James D. Burchell
Real Estate
Scholarship
Justin Brown
CCIM Scholarship
Brian Arnold
Dan Cary Youth Fund
Scholarship in Real
Estate
Joy Lohmann
First National Bank
Human Resources
Scholarship
Korrine Boltin
Michael Skogland
Gabriela Wulff
Laura Gogan Memorial
Scholarship
Keisha Holloway
C. Glenn Lewis
Scholarship
Adam Marek
Omaha Area Board of
Realtors® Scholarship
Betty Jacobson
Past President’s
Foundation/Nebraska
Realtors®
Association Scholarship
Justin Brown
Brian Feyerherm
Lisa Halamicek
Betty Jacobson
Joy Lohmann
Nick Miner
GENERAL COLLEGE
OF BUSINESS
ADMINISTRATION
SCHOLARSHIPS
American National Bank
of Sarpy County
Scholarship
Stephanie Berkebile
Shawn Torre
CBA Honors
Scholarship
Natalie Bolin
Caryn Conway
Daniel Goebel
Emily Johnson
Jeffrey Leach
Christopher McBratney
CBA Student and
Faculty
Excellence/Mammel
Scholarship
Alec Alba
Daniel Birkel
Aaron Cobb
Jessica Meyers
J.M. Harding/OPPD
Award of Excellence
Scholarship
Iva Kiriakova
R. Craig Hoenshell
Leadership Award
Nicholas Miner
R. Craig Hoenshell
Scholarship Award
Jeffrey Bart
Ikechi Chima
Clint Rushing
Darnetta Sanders
R. Craig Hoenshell
Talent Award
Ginger Gruber
Sam and Dorie
Leftwich Talent
Scholarship
William Goodman IV
Suzanne Sobota
Frank L. Mansell
Scholarship
Bruce Moritz
Merrill Lynch
Scholarship
Michael Barnes
Leilani Castillo
Donald Harvey
Coreen Jarecki
Northern Natural
Gas/N.P.N.G.
Scholarship
Ikechi Chima
Curtis Johnson
CBA Mammel
Scholarship renewals
Laci Ainsworth
Neil Archibald
Lisa Birge
Jennifer Lowther
Kirsten Olson
Shayla Schroeder
Karla Woods
Charles and Gloria
Billingsley Scholarship
Joseph Watson
Northwestern Mutual
Life Scholarship
Jessica Melby
Gary Penisten Talent
Scholarship
Julie Gohr
Pfizer Scholarship
Curtis Johnson
David Raymond Talent
Scholarship
Bruce Moritz
Ron and Shirley Burns
Leadership Scholarship
William Goodman
Donald and Mary
Rueschhoff
Scholarship
Crystal Bliemeister
Andrea Wilson
Dean’s Scholarship
David Brisson
Micki Gorup
Angel Randone
Natan and Hannah
Schwalb Scholarship
Bruce Moritz
Cari Reiff
Delaine and Dorothy
Donohue Scholarship
Jonas Luedtke
College of Business Administration
23
Scholarship Students
Off to a
Natalie Manzitto recognizes the power of a CBA
education — so much so that she’s close to com-
SCHOLARSHIPS
pleting her second degree, an MBA, in May.
STRO
Manzitto earned her bachelor’s degree in management information systems in 1996. Since then, she’s
applied her education to her work at Ford Motor
Credit Company in Omaha. She is an information
technology team leader at the company, which
serves as the national customer service center for
Clint Rushing
Ford. Manzitto’s job responsibilities include working
received a
with telephony, voice and data networks from the
2000-2001
desktop to the server level.
Finance,
Banking and
In 1998, she went back to school to earn her
Insurance
MBA, while still working full time. “I enjoy
Excellence in
learning and I thought the MBA would make
Education
me more well-rounded, in addition to my
scholarship
bachelor’s degree. I want not only to be
and an R.Craig
looked at as a technical person, but as a
Hoenshell
business person, too.”
Scholarship
Award.
When Manzitto decided to pursue her
MBA, she did look into other universities’ programs. But she says
Natalie
she came back to the College of
Manzitto
Business for its integrity and
received a
because “businesses regard
2000-2001
UNOmaha’s business program as
Union Pacific
one of the best, if not the best, in
Master’s of
the area. CBA does a really good
Business
job of helping students apply their
Administration
learning to practical situations.”
scholarship.
Down the road, Manzitto hopes to team her
technical background with her advanced business management education. “I enjoy working on
consulting projects or being some type of project
manager that integrates IT into the job. In today’s
business world, you really can’t go very far without understanding IT and business.”
22
NG
Their efforts are a prime reason why the college
FROM THE DEAN
stands out among its peers as a benchmark
for higher education. The events in the year
2000 certainly back that up. Last year, our
MBA program enrollment grew nearly 20%, a
credit to a revamped curriculum and, again,
stellar faculty. And perhaps most importantly,
we’re attracting high-quality students from
around the world, who are eager to learn and
to apply their knowledge to their careers.
The same holds true for UNOmaha’s
Executive MBA. Leaders from Omaha’s most
respected organizations are making the com-
Taking
mitment to spend 24 months with us, in order
to get a strategic view of their industry and
CHARGE
of Our
FUTURE
ensure their success for the long term. Our
classes are filling to capacity, and the caliber
of our students remains unparalleled.
I invite you to read more
about how we’re helping people take charge of their future
through an education at the
College of Business students have a quality
College of Business. In the pages that follow,
you won’t find just anywhere. It’s the desire to
you’ll find stories about our alumni, our faculty
take charge of the future and make great things
and our students and how they’re taking
possible for themselves starting right now. I like
steps to make the most of their futures.
to say they’re “pleasantly aggressive.”
Regards,
To create this empowerment, CBA students
are uniquely prepared to combine textbook
learning with real-life applications. They gain a
Stanley J. Hille, Ph.D.
perspective that lets them excel in the business world today. Our faculty — some of the
best in the region — make it a priority to
effectively blend the theoretical and practical
in every aspect of their teaching.
From our undergraduate courses, to our
MBA and executive MBA curriculum, to our
executive education programs, a CBA
education means a real-life education. To
reinforce that, our faculty keep a pulse on
what’s happening in the business community.
The UNO College of Business Administration is
They participate in internships, study local
accredited by the AACSB — The International
industry and create relationships with area
Association for Management Education. The
business leaders, so that they truly understand
college earned its reaffirmation of accreditation
what issues are important in business today.
in Fall 2000 (story, page 18).
College of Business Administration
3
Where are they
NOW
Former assistant dean
Bill Swanson returns to campus
on Wednesday evenings to teach
?
Business-to-Business Marketing.
Bill Swanson • CBA, management, 1978 • EMBA 1991
THEN:CBA Assistant Dean 1996-1999
NOW: Director of Employment, Training and Development,
First National Bank of Omaha
Adjunct professor, CBA
Member, CBA National Advisory Board
Though he doesn’t occupy the middle office in the Dean’s faculty department
anymore, Bill Swanson is still closely involved — and interested — in what’s
happening in the college.
As an executive with First National Bank, Swanson says he finds that the relationships he forged during his tenure as CBA assistant dean help him stay in tune
with the Omaha business community and also better appreciate and support education in his organization.
“I really support the idea of executive education programs, like the ones that CBA
offers. It’s a grossly underutilized concept in our community,” he emphasizes. “I’d
like to see the people in Omaha take advantage of the programs and business
partnerships that UNOmaha offers.” First National Bank is one of several area
EvaJon Sperling’s done a little bit of everything in her long career.
organizations that have participated in the CBA executive education program.
She’s sold encyclopedias door to door, served a stint in the U.S.
Marine Corps, even managed an office for the Michigan secretary of
His department — employment, training and development — is part of a larger
state. The biggest portion of her career, nearly 30 years, has been
division that provides human resources, procurement and related administrative
spent with the United States Postal Service.
services to the entire corporation. Swanson’s responsibilities include overseeing First
National’s management trainee program, which recruits and grooms some of the
On April 15, 1995 — a notoriously busy day at post offices across the
company’s best and brightest employees for higher positions in the organization.
country — Sperling joined the Omaha post office of the USPS as the
acting Postmaster. Three months later she was named Postmaster.
When he’s not on the job at First National Bank, you’ll often find him on campus.
Swanson teaches Business-to-Business Marketing at CBA, a course he’s been
In that post, she’s responsible for all delivery and retail personnel in the
teaching since 1992. He also devotes time to the UNOmaha Corporate Mav
Omaha branches — which translates to approximately 1,100 employ-
Council, which supports the university’s athletic department.
ees. She oversees the delivery of mail to about 230,000 addresses.
And she handles an operational budget in excess of $55 million.
Attention
ALUMNI
We want to hear from you! Keep us in the loop with your
life — and make a connection with the College of Business
— by sending us your latest news. Please include:
• Your name and address (including e-mail)
• Year of graduation
• News about your career, your family, your life
Send your information to:
4
[email protected]
You might think Sperling is content to rest on her laurels. Not so.
Last August, the Michigan native completed two consecutive years of
intensive study to earn an executive MBA degree from UNOmaha. Like
hundreds of other executives who have completed the program,
Sperling committed to attending classes on Friday nights and Saturdays
and spending much of her spare time studying course material.
A DIFFERENT POINT OF VIEW
It was a commitment she says she felt she needed to make, in order
to round out her professional career and strengthen her ability to
NBDC Event
RE-ENERGIZES
Local Businesses
“We’ve become deeply involved in helping Nebraska
If you could start your business over
businesses enter the e-business arena,” he says.
again, how would you re-engineer it
for today’s new economy? That’s the
“Increasingly, many of the businesses we deal with are
question that NBDC asked — and
required touse the Web to receive proposal requests,
helped answer — at its first annual
bid on projects, make reports and receive payments,”
re-Biz event, held in November.
Bernier adds. NBDC clients are also utilizing
e-business to control their supply chain, to publish
Say “electronic business” and our thoughts jump
up-to-date price lists and control inventory prices.
to dot-coms and e-tailing.
sented 16 breakout sessions to the more than 300
of the World Wide Web to help companies become
attendees to help IT professionals, business owners
more efficient and provide more reliable information to
and executives sort through the many decisions
their customers, whether those customers are con-
involved in using e-business in their own companies.
sumers or business-to-business clients.
Speakers included representatives from well-known
Web retailers, local legal firms, software companies,
It’s a popular — yet formidable — concept for many
as well as NBDC’s own technology training program.
Nebraska businesses. To help area organizations
realize the importance of implementing e-business in
Attendees chose sessions from among four tracks-
their own companies and understand what’s involved
managerial, legal, real-world practices and technology.
in that decision, the Nebraska Business
Topics included becoming Net ready, privacy in cyber-
Development Center (NBDC) presented a special
space, database integration, building an e-business
conference on November 6.
architecture, as well as presentations from area e-tailers, including Omaha Steaks.
Re-Biz, short for “re-engineering for electronic
business,” was the result of a growing demand by
Internet business owner Ravi Kalakota, co-author of
businesses in the state to respond to emerging oppor-
e-Business: Roadmap for Success, was the keynote
tunities, says Robert Bernier, Ph.D., director of the cen-
speaker. Jack R. McDonnell, president of Omaha-based
ter, which is a department of the College of Business.
Ameritrade, spoke at the event’s luncheon.
Proceeds from the conference will benefit NBDC
graduate students studying information technology.
Judging by the influx of interest in NBDC technology
training after the event, Bernier can call the conference a success. In addition to planning to present the
second annual re-Biz event in 2001, “we’re hoping to
be able to deliver the re-Biz material to more businesses throughout Nebraska,” he says. “We think it’s
so important to the future of Nebraska that every
NEBRASKA BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER
And that’s just a sample. The re-Biz conference preBut in actuality, e-business represents the many uses
company can get this kind of training, or else there’s
no way they’re going to compete without it.”
Re-Biz was co-hosted by Midwest Information
Systems Professionals and Norstan Consulting.
College of Business Administration
21
DEPARTMENT NEWS
ACCOUNTING
three-volume set in Economics of Defence in
research findings, “Why Are Stock Prices So
England.
High? Dividend Growth of Discount Factors?”
He presented at Ohio State University, Kansas
Wikil Kwak, Ph.D., presented his paper, “A
State University and University of New Orleans.
Fuzzy Set Approach in Audit Staff Planning
Arthur Diamond, Ph.D., authored “The
Problems,” at the Mathematics and Computers
Complementarity of Scientometrics and
in Business and Economics Meeting in
Economics,” a book chapter for The Web of
Jamaica. He also presented “A Fuzzy Set
Knowledge, published by American Society for
Approach in International Transfer Pricing
Information Science. His article, “Scientists’
Problems” at the Eighth Pacific Basic Finance,
Salaries and the Implicit Contracts Theory of
Economics and Accounting Conference in
the Labor Market,” will appear in International
Smoothing Method,” has been accepted for
Bangkok, Thailand.
Journal of Technology Management.
publication in Journal of Futures Markets.
Vivek Mande, Ph.D. and Richard
In 2000, Shuanglin Lin, Ph.D., was pub-
Michael J. O’Hara, J.D., Ph.D., served as
Ortman, Ph.D., are co-authors of “The
lished in several publications. His contributions
chair of the MBA Thesis Committee for a stu-
Usefulness of Segment Reporting: Views of
include “Resource Allocation and Economic
dent’s thesis, “The Technology Transfer
Financial Analysis,” a paper published in
Growth in China (Economic Inquiry), “The
Valuation of Intellectual Property: Valuing
International Journal of Accounting. They
Decline of China’s Budgetary Revenue: Reasons
Patent-Granted Medical Devices Transferred
also have been invited to present their research
and Consequences” (Contemporary Economic
Out of Universities,” presented in December.
at the University of Illinois, where world-
Policy) and “Government Dept and Economic
He also co-authored “A Quandary for
renowned cultural anthropologist Harry Triandis
Growth in an Overlapping Generations Model”
Information Technology: Who Controls the
will also discuss the paper. In October 2000,
(Southern Economic Journal).
Content of Distance Education?,” published in
Mande gave a presentation on international
accounting issues to the annual meeting of the
Nebraska Society of CPAs.
Donald Baum, Ph.D., was a guest at the
joint meeting of the Association of Government
Accountants and the Greater Omaha chapter
of the American Society of Military Comptrollers,
speaking on the topic “Exceeding the
Economic Speed Limit.” He also participated in
A paper by Weiyu “Wendy” Guo,
Ph.D.,”Maximum Entrop: A Convex-Spline
Journal of Information Systems Education.
An article by Donald Nielsen, Ph.D., and
Roger Sindt, Ph.D., “World Wide Web Data
Sources for the Appraiser,” appeared in
ECONOMICS
FINANCE, BANKING & LAW
MANAGEMENT & MARKETING
Valuation Insights and Perspectives. They
also authored “Economic Development
Bob Mathis, Ph.D. (management) was quot-
Incentives for Nebraska: The HubZone
ed in a May article in U.S. News & World
Empowerment Contracting Program” (Papers
Report regarding Internet retailing’s effect on
of the Nebraska Economics and Business
call-center marketing.
Association) and “HubZones: Economic
Incentives for Mid-Sized Businesses” (American
Business Perspectives).
An article by Rebecca Morris, Ph.D., (marketing) and co-author Charles Martin was
the topic of a front-page article in the August 17
an economics panel discussion at the Midwest
conference of the National Coalition Against
Department chair Kim Sosin, Ph.D., was
Gambling Expansion.
named the associate editor of a new section in
Journal of Economic Education, which has
issue of the Wall Street Journal. “Beanie
Babies: A Case Study in the Engineering of a
High-Involvement, Relationship-Prone Brand,”
was published in Journal of Product & Brand
Four articles by Catherine Co, Ph.D.,
launched a unique concept using a combination
among them “Trade, Foreign Direct
of the printed journal and the Web for publish-
Investments and Industry Performance” and
ing. She also co-authored “Online Teaching
“Returns to Returning” appeared in interna-
Resources: A New Journal Section,” which
agement) presented “Legal Challenge to
tional economics and industrial organization
was published the journal.
Assessment Centers” at the International
journals in 2000. Co also was a co-presenter at
Management.
In March, Robert Ottemann, Ph.D., (man-
Association for Chiefs of Police Annual
the International Economics and Finance Society
Janet West is currently serving as first vice
Conference. He also directed study for the
Session of the 2000 Southern Economic
president of the national American Association of
Nebraska State Patrol on the validation of writ-
Association meeting in Washington, D.C.
University Professors. In the past year, she also
ten testing for entry-level trooper selection.
presented to the Greater Resources for Omaha
An article co-authored by Bill Corcoran,
Women organization: ‘Women in the Labor
“A Model of the Factors Affecting Growth of
Ph.D. — ”Short-run Employment Functions
Force in 2000: What Changes Have Occurred.”
the Internet as a Retail Medium,” co-authored
and Defence Contracts in the UK Aircraft
by Birud Sindhav (marketing) was published
Industry” — originally published in Applied
Throughout 2000, Mark Wohar, Ph.D., was
in a special issue on cross-disciplinary research
Economics, is being reprinted as part of a
invited to other universities to present his
in Journal of Market-Focused Management.
20
EMBAPROGRAMGives Omaha
Postmaster
PERSPECTIVE
lead her organization. “I’ve been with the Post Office since 1972.
EvaJon Sperling at the
Omaha and its potential for technological innovation.
USPS Postal Emporium
You get to a point where you think only in terms of how things will
affect that world,” she says.
Next, the group traveled to Cleveland to attend a conference spon-
retail store, located in the
sored by the National Business Incubators Association. That trip
former Northrup-Jones
“I needed to change that. I wanted to be able to look at the world
connected the group with business contacts from England, who
building at 16th and
from a different point of view. Going back to school and having an
paved the way for Sperling and her colleagues to visit Oxford
Farnam in Omaha.
opportunity to experience the interchanges in a classroom gave me
University, The London Business School, Aston Business Park and
some wonderful opportunities to see things differently.”
members of the British government.
Although she’s “probably had more life experiences” than most peo-
THE INCUBATOR PROJECT
Sperling says she gained a lot from the diversity of her EMBA classmates’ career experience and faculty’s backgrounds. “Listening to a
professor from India, then one from China, talk about situations from
very different viewpoints was absolutely a wonderful experience. It
gave me a broadened perspective that I was missing in my life.”
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Back at home, they landed on the idea of creating a business plan
for a for-profit business incubator, focusing on — but not limited to
— technology. “With the changes created by computer advancements, Omaha needs to regain the entrepreneurial spirit it once
had” and challenge other U.S. cities for top billing, Sperling says.
Together, the group presented its plan to a variety of community
groups, calling on them to create incubators and “hubs of excel-
During the program, all Executive MBA students participate in a
lence” specializing in a variety of industries in the Omaha area,
business consulting project, which takes students overseas for
across the state and throughout the region.
ALUMNI
ple in the class — if you measure her life in years, she says —
approximately two weeks. The project can include work with local
organizations, as well as international enterprises.
The project isn’t a reality — yet — and new opportunities have
taken three of the five group members to other places. But Sperling
Sperling and her four study group partners “decided we wanted to
says she hopes the project may act as a catalyst for Omaha to
do something with the potential of making a difference in our com-
someday create incubators that will open up broader possibilities
munity,” she says. Their research began with a curiosity about
for the city and encourage younger citizens to stay.
College of Business Administration
5
BUSINESS PARTNERS
Charles J. Marr and Donald E.
Manning, M.D., helped bring
the CBA Executive Education
program to Alegent Health.
In 2000, the first group of the
organization’s physicians
completed the Fundamentals of
Business Management course.
Being a physician today requires much more
than the ability to treat patients. It takes the
knowledge to navigate and negotiate through
a sea of paperwork, health plans, supply costs
and purchasing decisions. And that’s something physicians never learned in med school.
That’s the reason behind a new partnership
between CBA and Alegent Health in Omaha.
PHYSICIANS
Get Down to Business —
and PUMP
UP
Their Careers
In Spring 2000, 17 physicians affiliated with
the health care organization participated in one
of the college’s executive education programs,
Fundamentals of Business Management.
The executive education series is designed to
The program, like each session the college
again this year,” Dr. Manning says. The 2001
provide a tailored curriculum that focuses on
presents, was customized to address the topics
session will also include a group of physicians
various facets of business management,
of greatest interest to Alegent physicians.
who are in the early stages of their careers
including economics, accounting, marketing,
“What makes this program really special is that
and who represent the next generation of
finance and information technology. Since it
the professors have taken time to relate the
medical leaders.
was introduced to the Omaha business com-
topics to health care. It isn’t exclusively aca-
munity in 1997, the program has been cus-
demic — the faculty use examples to help
Buzz about the program has spilled over to
tomized for banking, public utility and other
physicians better understand the business
doctors’ lounges and offices, adds Marr. “I
health care organizations.
principles that are being presented,” Marr says.
think there’s been a lot of spirited discussions
Becoming more familiar, and more comfort-
Classes were held on Friday evenings and
One of the important things this program
able, with business principles is becoming
Saturday mornings for eight weeks — not a
offers is the camaraderie and group effort of
increasingly important for physicians as they
small commitment for already busy profes-
people analyzing the issues and talking them
strive to advance their careers and benefit
sionals. But the response and enthusiasm
over with each other.”
their organizations, says Charles J. Marr, chief
from the physicians who completed the pro-
executive officer of Alegent Health. “Doctors
gram show that the time sacrifice was well
The program has been a valuable way to
today need to have a better grasp of business
worth it, says Dr. Donald E. Manning, chief
underscore the importance of teamwork, both
in order to be effective in their jobs, whether
medical officer of the organization.
in a private practice and on a corporate level,
that have carried over from the classroom.
Dr. Manning says. “Physicians are team
it’s in their private practices, in their duties as
medical staff members at our hospitals, or
“Our physicians’ assessment of the quality of
players — and the course reinforces that. The
working with health plans and other health
instruction and its usefulness was extremely
people who have participated in the program
care vendors.”
high, which has led to us offering the program
can much better understand that need.”
6
DEPARTMENT NEWS
Dean’s Citations
FACULTY, STAFF
HONOR
NEW
FACULTY
Congratulations to our 2000 Dean’s Citation award
We’re pleased to introduce our newest
position. Her teaching areas include managing
honorees. The awards recognize faculty and staff
members of the CBA faculty. Collectively,
the college’s internship program, as well as
members who have demonstrated exceptional
they bring both interesting and valuable
advertising, consumer behavior and electronic
performance during the academic year. Kudos go to:
experiences to their new posts.
commerce. Holland has published papers on
ethnic differences in reactions to marketing
EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING
Judith Watanabe, Ph.D., Accounting
EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH
Phani Tej Adidam, Ph.D., Marketing
EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE
Art Diamond, Ph.D., Economics
EXCELLENCE IN OVERALL
PERFORMANCE
Mary Landholt and Lex Kaczmarek
CATHERINE CO, PH.D.
Assistant Professor, Economics
Co has been a budget analyst in the Department
of Budget and Management of the Philippines
and, most recently, was a member of the faculty
at the University of Central Florida. Her areas of
teaching and research include international economics, econometrics and macroeconomics.
She has published several papers on foreign
Associate Dean Louis Pol, Ph.D., is the
direct investment and international trade.
Associate Dean Louis Pol
co-author (with Richard K. Thomas) of The
published in 2000. The book,
HO YOUNG LEE, PH.D.
US West Communications (now Qwest).
RETIRING
FACULTY
It’s with more than a little sadness and
regret that we say goodbye to two outstanding professors. We wish them well in
they’ve given the college.
DONALD CONNELL
one in a series of publications
Lee recently completed his Ph.D. in accounting
studying demographic methods
at the University of Oregon. Prior to that, he
and population analysis, discuss-
was employed as an economic research and
Connell, who retired in August after an out-
es the effects of evolving con-
financial analyst at a Korean investment and
standing teaching career, came to the
sumer groups, such as single-personal households
securities firm. Lee’s interests include manageri-
University of Omaha in 1965 and has taught
and the elderly, and their effect on the future of health
al accounting, cost accounting and accounting
more economics students than any professor
care. The book also features real-life case studies that
information systems. His research focuses on
at UNOmaha — most years teaching more
illustrate the changes our society is experiencing.
empirical auditing, managerial decision making
than 500 students. He was devoted to teach-
and accounting information systems.
ing active and current economics and often
Commission on the Status of Women. The
commission, formed in 1972,
Professor Emeriti, Economics
took current events to class to illustrate the les-
been appointed to the UNOmaha Chancellor’s
Assistant Dean Rauhauser
rience also includes being a product manager at
Assistant Professor, Accounting
Assistant Dean Nancy Nogg Rauhauser has
son of the day. Connell has been awarded
BIRUD SINDHAV
Assistant Professor, Marketing
Outstanding Teacher honors from both CBA
and from the College of Continuing Studies.
serves as an advisory council to
Sindhav is completing his Ph.D. in marketing at
the Chancellor and other
the University of Oklahoma. His areas of teach-
university administrators on
ing include electronic business, international
issues that relate to women
marketing and marketing channels. Sindhav’s
faculty, staff and students at
research focuses on the Internet as a retail
After more than 25 years with the college,
UNOmaha. Nogg Rauhauser will
medium, the management of marketing chan-
Buehlmann will retire in May 2001. He served
nels and the consumer acculturation of immi-
as the chair of the accounting department from
serve a two-year term.
DAVID BUEHLMANN, PH.D.
Professor, Accounting
grants. He also has been employed as a senior
1977 to 1986 and also served as the admis-
Robert Bernier, Ph.D., director of the Nebraska
marketing executive in India’s largest food
sions director for the master’s in professional
Business Development Center (a department of the
enterprise and as an assistant manager for a
accounting program for 13 years. Buehlmann
major gas company in India.
commitment to his students was evident in the
College of Business), has been
Robert Bernier, Ph.D.
advertising effectiveness. Her professional expe-
their new lives and thank them for all
Demography of Health and
Health Care (Second Edition),
effects and the impact of cultural symbols on
named assistant dean of the
classroom work, and his commitment to the
college. “I’m very excited to have
this opportunity,” Bernier says.
“This tie really enables us to
further integrate NBDC into the
college and into the university.”
Bernier also received his Ph.D. in December 2000.
accounting discipline was shown in his many
JONNA HOLLAND, PH.D.
Assistant Professor, Marketing
research projects. During his long career, he
was published in various professional journals,
Holland is a familiar face at CBA — she was an
including Management Accounting, Journal
instructor for five years in the marketing depart-
of Accounting Education and Issues in
ment before being named to her current
Accounting Education.
College of Business Administration
19
Earns
CBA
Reaffirmation of
ACCREDITATION
BUILDS
Real Estate Program
on Its REPUTATION
Building a structure that’s going to last
goal of having an endowed chair in the
It’s official — CBA has received
requires a solid foundation. And that’s why a
department.
reaffirmation of its accreditation as
group of Omaha business professionals are
one of the world’s premier business
teaming with CBA faculty to build a height-
programs. The designation comes from
ened awareness of the college’s real estate
college will roll out a program in
AACSB, the international agency that
and land use economics program.
commercial real estate finance. It’s been
made possible by a $85,000 grant from
accredits colleges of business
DEPARTMENT NEWS
Larry Trussell. Ph.D.
administration and accounting.
• Enhancing curriculum. Soon, the
“We think it’s a valuable part of the universi-
the Mortgage Bankers Association and
ty and that’s why we’re stepping up to the
the actions of local real estate professional
Reviews are conducted every
plate to see what we can do,” says John
Rodrigo Lopez. Department faculty
ten years, and are required for
Bredemeyer, president of Realcorp, an
members Roger Sindt, Ph.D., and Kath
colleges to maintain accredit-
Omaha real estate appraisal firm.
Henebry, Ph.D., have constructed
curriculum that allows students the option
ed status in the organization,
During the past year, real estate professionals
to earn a specialization in the subject or
who coordinated and supervised the
— representing residential and commercial
a certificate.
reaffirmation of accreditation process.
brokerage, management, finance and
CBA is one of approximately 370 busi-
appraisal companies — have come
ness colleges to be AACSB-accredited.
together to let prospective students and
Efforts here, spearheaded by MEGA
area businesses know just how strong the
Corporation president Bennett Ginsberg,
program really is.
include speaking to high school students
says Larry Trussell, Ph.D.,
Last fall, a team of AACSB evaluators
• Recruiting and retaining students.
about possible career paths, as well as
came to UNOmaha to complete the
second phase of a lengthy and detailed
“The CBA program is well-prepared to train
educating UNOmaha freshmen about the
review. During the on-site visit, the
the future leaders of the real estate commu-
program. The committee has invited first-
evaluation team met with CBA faculty,
nity,” Bredemeyer says. “When you gradu-
year students to tour local real estate
students and university representatives
ate with a degree in real estate from UNO,
firms and also has promoted the college’s
to discuss information submitted in an
you really know the nuts and the bolts of
internship program.
initial written review.
the industry.”
Much of the committee’s plan is still in its
“Going through the review is a very
Providing a high-quality program requires a
infancy, but Bredemeyer says he and the
positive process for the college,” says
commitment of time and funding, however.
group are excited about implementing
Trussell, a former CBA dean. “It allows
So, to solidify its plan, the committee has
several aspects in 2001. UNOmaha is one
us to identify areas to improve upon”
identified three areas of emphasis:
of only five universities across the United
States selected by the Mortgage Bankers of
and also look at the college from a
more objective point of view.
In a formal letter to Dean Stan Hille
after the campus review, the visitation
team highlighted the strengths they had
observed during their visit and following
the review of the college’s written
report.
“The letter also indicated areas to work
on,” Trussell adds. “But we’re already
addressing areas we believe can be
improved, based on what we learned
preparing for the review. We’ve all
come to appreciate the rigors of the
process, because it makes us all
stronger as a college.”
18
• Funding key faculty positions. The
America to receive a grant that allows them
group is working to raise funds for an
to start a new real estate program or
endowed professorship, with a long-term
enhance an existing program.
Collaborative
PARTNERSHIP
Provides Engine for GROWTH
MBA
LEADERSHIP SERIES
The CBA master’s program is known for producing highly
effective leaders. Our graduates have gone on to be
They’re two respected organizations that draw
as priorities- — business, technology, human
some of the area’s brightest professionals to
resources and diversity, public relations and
their doors.
communications, and operations — CBA plays
an important role.
It just makes sense, then, that Omaha’s Union
Pacific Railroad and UNOmaha should also team
The business unit, led by Nogg Rauhauser, is
up to help contribute to our community’s growth.
working to build its internship program for both
students and faculty, and also integrate Union
giants of industry, spearheading some of the best-known
and most respected organizations in the area. But how
did these leaders get their start and what’s led to their
success?
Our graduate students got to find out firsthand from our
MBA Leadership Series guest speakers, who in 2000
In January 2000, a collaborative team of repre-
Pacific as a practical example in its classrooms.
sentatives from Union Pacific and UNOmaha —
Last year, students from Introduction to
including CBA assistant dean Nancy Nogg
Management classes visited the company’s
Rauhauser and EMBA program director Curt
Harriman Dispatch Center.
Bayer — met for the first time to discuss ways
to strengthen its partnership.
college in other ways, as well. Graduates, such
represented sectors including banking, insurance and
community service.
Special thanks to the Ron and Shirley Burns
Leadership Fund which makes our series
possible.
The plan, says Jamie Herbert, director of work-
as Jack Koraleski, executive vice president of
force planning for Union Pacific and leader of
marketing and sales, serve on the CBA National
the collaborative group, “is a great foundation
Advisory Board and in other advisory positions.
for the future. This is our commitment to share
accountability for the success of the university
The railroad also funds annual scholarships and
and its graduates.”
faculty-endowed chairs for the university and the
college. In April and October 2000, the collabora-
FEBRUARY Bernard Reznicek, national director for utility marketing at Central States Indemnity Co. of
Omaha. Reznicek also has served as president at OPPD
and Boston (Mass.) Edison Company and as dean of the
College of Business Administration at Creighton University.
Union Pacific has pledged its support to the
To enhance recruiting success and explore
tive team hosted recognition breakfasts to salute
other avenues, the collaborative team is work-
its CBA scholarship recipients and to present the
ing to strengthen its relationship among its own
Union Pacific Endowed Professorship to
members and among students, faculty and
Accounting Department chair Jack Armitage.
staff at UNOmaha.
Staying involved with the university and its col-
MARCH Margery “Maggie” Hughes, president
and chief administration officer of Allianz Life of North
America and Life USA Holding, Inc. Hughes joined Life
USA in 1990 after a successful career in public relations
and management consulting.
Union Pacific has traditionally looked to CBA
leges, Herbert says, is a prime way for Union
and UNOmaha to hire its graduates. Many of
Pacific to be responsible corporate citizens —
the railroad’s professionals and executives have
and to fulfill its own priorities. “We will continue
earned undergraduate and advanced business
to have hiring needs in our organization. And
degrees from the university.
we’re always interested in looking at the best
and brightest graduates available. We believe
OCTOBER Jan Schneiderman, president of the
National Council of Jewish Women and former vice
Among the four areas the team has identified
they’re in our own backyard at UNO.”
president of public relations and marketing for K-B Foods,
an Omaha food distributor. A UNOmaha speech
communications graduate, Schneiderman is an active
community volunteer.
NOVEMBER Richard Buchanan, vice
president, corporate services at First National Bank of
Omaha and a rear admiral, U.S. Navy (retired). Buchanan
served as the director of operations and logistics at the
United States Strategic Command at Offutt Air Force
Base, as well as holding several other posts with the
Navy.
UNOmaha Chancellor
Nancy Belck, Professor
Jack Armitage and Ike
Evans, President and Chief
Operating Officer of Union
Pacific, speak at the recognition breakfasts to salute
CBA scholarship recipients.
College of Business Administration
7
High School
STUDENTS
StepINSIDECBA
that it can be a personal experience for
To a high school junior or
everyone. Parents are also welcome to
senior, the thought of college
attend,” Reiser says.
can seem a little overwhelming.
“Will I fit in?” “What will my
The fourth annual event was in held
classes be like?” “Will I like
February 2000. The day started out at the
my professors?”
UNOmaha student center, where students
were welcomed by CBA deans and representatives from
Marketing professor
Amy Rodie talks with
Omaha-area high
school students at
several college student organizations. Later,
But an annual event at the College of
the visitors sat in on business classes,
Business is helping to answer these ques-
toured the CBA computer lab, and
tions, among others — and is also serving
participated in panel discussions with
as a public relations tool for the college.
CBA faculty and students.
“Inside CBA” started as an outgrowth of
Then it was on to lunch and the campus
one of the college’s advisory committees,
bookstore, followed by a question-and-
made up of Omaha-area high school
answer session. Students wrapped up the
business teachers. Teachers said their
day with an opportunity to talk with staff
students were curious about what it’s like to
from the university’s admissions office,
be a business student and what business
student housing and CBA advising
classes are really like.
departments.
That’s when CBA got involved, says Mary
Since the program started, Reiser says,
Lynn Reiser, event organizer. Since 1997,
about 60 to 70 percent of the attendees
the college has invited students from all
have gone on to become UNOmaha
public and private high school in the
students. “We feel that whatever
Omaha area. “Each school is encouraged
connection we can make with them while
to bring four or five students, specifically
they’re here can be a lifelong one,” she
those who are interested in attending UNO.
says, “whether students come to us as
We try to keep the total at about 30, so
undergraduates, or to pursue an advanced
“Inside CBA,” held in
OUTREACH
February 2000.
degree.”
8
STUDENT GROUP Makes
CONNECTIONS with Local
LEADERS
Today, graduating with business contacts is as important to college students as a
diploma. So, to help future graduates forge relationships with some of Omaha’s
most influential leaders, a group of CBA students have formed a
new student organization.
The Student Business Association (SBA) was launched last fall,
with help from assistant dean Nancy Nogg Rauhauser and CBA
undergraduate advisor Terri O’Brien. Officially, the group serves as
a forum for minority business students at UNOmaha — but all
students are welcome, and people from a variety of backgrounds
have attended its meetings.
“SBA helps our students make contacts with business professionals in
the area, to help them network and learn how things work in the business world,” says O’Brien, the group’s moderator. The business community has been very supportive, she adds, and has sent speakers from
a variety of companies to come to monthly meetings and also has underwritten some
of the group’s expenses.
Guests talk about the issues students are asking about, says founding
member Darnetta Sanders. “The speakers are very open and honest
about their experiences. Being in the group has helped me prepare
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
for the future by giving me some real-life examples of how corporate
life can and will be.”
Emily Muckerheide,
from UNO Career
Services, speaks to
SBA members about
how to make the most of
the center’s resources.
Most of the speakers are minorities themselves, which O’Brien
also says is a motivating factor in helping SBA members understand what kind of a role they, too, can have in a corporate environment. “We want the students to know that there are people
outside the college that they can look to as mentors, as great
role models.”
Sanders agrees, and says that speakers are eager to help students learn
more about their jobs or their industries. “They’re always very open to
questions after the meetings. They hand out their business cards and
encourage us to call them if we have questions or need anything.”
Being in the organization, Sanders says, “has motivated me a lot.” The
senior will graduate in May with a management degree and plans to
attend law school in the fall. Eventually, she says, “my goal is to be a
world-class entrepreneur” — and achieve the same kind of success she’s
seen firsthand from the SBA speaker series.
College of Business Administration
17
OUTSTANDING MBA PROFESSOR OF THE YEAR
Last spring, CBA honored those students and
TEJ ADIDAM, PH.D.
faculty who demonstrated exceptional performance during the past year. On April 6, a
new group of students, as well as CBA faculty
and staff, were inducted into the Gamma of
Nebraska chapter of Beta Gamma Sigma, the
national honor society in business and management. We also congratulate our 2000 outstanding professors and students, who also
received honors in spring ceremonies.
Marketing professor Tej Adidam earns high marks from his
MBA students for creating a positive learning atmosphere and
extensively incorporating the real world into his class. For those
reasons — and for overall excellence in the classroom — Dr.
Adidam was awarded the top MBA teaching honor for 2000.
He also was awarded the first-ever Executive Education
Professorship of Business Administration at UNOmaha and was
named Distinguished EMBA Professor of the Year, also in 2000.
2000 CBA HONORS
OUTSTANDING EMBA PROFESSOR OF THE YEAR
JUNIORS
George Harris Award
Denzil Jorgenson
DAVID VOLKMAN, PH.D.
Michael Asmus
Erin Berggren
Caryn Conway
Jeffrey Haase
Ryan Hoffman
Jennifer Huffman
Joy Lohmann
Benjamin Miller
Frank Mitchell
Tina Reimnitz
Joseph Rewolinski
Clint Rushing
Jack Hill Award
Shari Jensen
Larry Trussell Award
Patricia Kilgore
David Volkman is a perennial favorite of Executive MBA
SENIORS
Justin Brauer
Ronni Dame
Ginger Gruber
Cynthia Guthmann
Sarah McGrath
Nicole Schnieders
Laura Shaffer
Leigh Snow
Amy Schmidt Socha
Stephanie Somers
Christine Tjelmeland
Vadim Vlasov
Nikki Wiseman
MASTERS
James Anderson
Jodi Cagle
Scott Damrow
Bobbi Fisher
Bawn Froning
Denzil Jorgenson
Patricia Killgore
Brian Langel
Gary Mazour
Robert Sauer
Jill Sigelman
Anna Vygodina
FACULTY
Vivek Mande, Ph.D.
ADMINISTRATION
Lex Kaczmarek
GRADUATE
HONOREES
Accounting
William Feay
Bill Brown Award
Bobbi Fisher
Economics
Haihzi Tong
16
participants — in fact, 2000 marks the fifth time he has been
chosen EMBA Professor of the Year. An associate
UNDERGRADUATE
HONOREES
Accounting
Christine Tjelmeland
professor in finance, banking and law, Dr. Volkman is actively
involved in helping students understand the practical
applications of their studies. Currently, he is working on
Management Information
Systems
Karl Petersen
developing a new investment club for the college.
Banking and Financial
Markets
Karen Helmberger
OUTSTANDING EXECUTIVE MBA STUDENT OF THE YEAR
Business Finance
Scott Reynolds
Economics
Ginger Gruber
RICHARD BUCHANAN
Rick Buchanan brings an impressive slate of experience and
accomplishments to the EMBA program. He has served as a
Real Estate & Land Use
Economics
Adam Marek
two-star Navy admiral, completed two senior executive
Management
Jessica Calvert
of Government Management and currently is vice president of
Marketing
Katie Grosskopf
programs at the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School
corporate services for First National Bank of Omaha. For his
commitment, contributions to his class and 3.9 cumulative
GPA, Buchanan’s classmates and faculty have given him this
GENERAL AWARD
RECIPIENTS
Dean’s Award
Katie Grosskopf
OTHER HONORS
AWARDED IN
2000
Ray Bradley Outstanding
Corporate Finance Student
Award
Melissa Karm
top EMBA honor.
UNOMAHA ALUMNI OUTSTANDING TEACHING AWARD
DARRYLL LEWIS, J.D.
Finance, Banking and Law
This annual award is presented by the university’s Alumni
Association to eight UNOmaha faculty to honor distinguished
Elroy J. Steele Outstanding
Banking Student Award
Michael Buse
teaching in the classroom. Recipients are chosen by a
UNO Honor Recipient for
Banking and Financial
Markets
Karen Helmberger
who teaches commercial, business and international law,
UNO Honor Recipient for
Business Finance
Scott Reynolds
nuances that go along with education.”
committee of their peers in their respective colleges. Lewis,
says it’s an honor to receive an award for doing something he
enjoys. “I love imparting knowledge and the angles and
NU Foundation
HELPS CBA
Put Gifts to
WORK
officers such as Dempsey work with the uni-
ed gifts are also an important way to further
versity’s colleges to match donor interest
the mission of the college. In either case,
with campus and college priorities. “I work
says Dempsey, 100 percent of all gifts are
Thanks to support from the
closely with Dean Hille and others at CBA so
used entirely for the purposes the donor
University of Nebraska Foundation,
that I can speak firsthand to prospective
designates.
the College of Business is able to
donors about the goals of the college,”
provide its own strong foundation
Dempsey says.
Charitable giving from alumni and friends,
for students, faculty and business
partners.
corporations and foundations has helped
Gifts that benefit CBA and other UNOmaha
CBA reach a level often unattainable through
colleges are managed at the foundation.
state funding alone, he emphasizes. “Private
The foundation plays a key role in helping to
Donors can choose to provide funds that are
support allows the college to further develop
put donors’ gifts to work in the areas where
available for use at the college immediately,
a program beyond what state funds pro-
they’re most needed. “We serve as a con-
or they can create an endowment that will
vide,” he says. “These gifts help the college
nection between the donor and the college,”
fund projects from the interest accumulated
recruit outstanding professors, create
says Jeffrey Dempsey, associate director of
from an invested fund.
students scholarships and build top-notch
development at the University of Nebraska
Foundation.
programs and facilities.”
Donors also have the option of designating
their gifts for specific purposes or making the
For information about how you or
The University of Nebraska Foundation is the
funds available to support areas of greatest
your organization may support the
fundraising organization and manager of pri-
need in the college as identified by the dean.
college with a gift, contact the
vate gifts benefiting the University of
While more than 95 percent of gifts coming
University of Nebraska Foundation
Nebraska’s four campuses. Development
to the foundation are designated, unrestrict-
at 402-595-2302.
GIFTto Establish Student-Managed
INVESTMENT FUND
$500,000
A half-million-dollar gift commitment from a UNOmaha alumnus to the
fund’s management team,” Volkman says. Membership in the club will
University of Nebraska Foundation will establish a student-managed
be open to any UNOmaha student.
investment fund, the first of its kind at UNOmaha.
Colonel Cloud has already given $250,000 to the foundation. The
The gift, from Colonel Guy M. Cloud Jr. of Austin, Texas, “will give our
remaining gift will be provided after students have invested the initial
students the opportunity to invest real money and gain valuable,
amount. Proceeds generated by the fund will be used in two ways:
hands-on experience with managing investments,” says David
• To establish the Colonel Guy M. Cloud, Junior and Patricia Cloud
Volkman, Ph.D., chair of the finance, banking and law department.
Professor of Investment Sciences at UNOmaha, and;
• To create scholarships for students pursuing a degree in business
In conjunction with the gift, Volkman is creating a portfolio manage-
administration at UNOmaha.
ment course to be offered this fall. Students in the course will work
directly with the Colonel Guy M. Cloud, Junior and Patricia Cloud
Cloud, who was stationed at Strategic Air Command at Offutt Air
Student-Managed Investment Fund; a fund management team will be
Force Base during the height of the Cold War, says he wanted to
chosen from students in the class.
share his success in the investment arena with the next generation of
investment professionals. “I don’t have any formal investment training,
The Cloud gift also has spurred the development of a student invest-
but I’ve been investing for 50 years. It’s my hope that this fund will
ment club. “Members of the Maverick Investment Club will analyze
give students the real-world experience they need for success after
the performance of the fund and make recommendations to the
graduation.”
College of Business Administration
9
MBA Program Goes
GL BAL
INTERNATIONAL CONNECTIONS
MBA Program
TRAVELS
to CHINA
Wang Hongyan (right) chats with management
professor Rebecca Morris and associate dean
Louis Pol, at a reception honoring
Chinese MBA graduates.
UNOmaha’s MBA program regularly
curious about business terminology and Western-
attracts students from across the
style contracts. "The students were very interested
world. But over the past two years,
in being able to communicate in this era of global
a Chinese university in Beijing attracted several CBA
business the same way as we do," he says.
faculty to its own campus.
The program served as a learning experience for
Eight professors traveled more than 6,000 miles to
the MBA faculty, as well, says Darryll Lewis, J.D., a
the University of Petroleum to teach the MBA
CBA law professor. “It was truly a laboratory in
curriculum to 16 Chinese business executives
reaching across cultural lines and, for me, bringing
interested in American-style business training.
American law concepts to a recently Communist
country. The experience was a lot about mixing
Each faculty member spent up to three weeks in
culture with education, as well as mixing our two
Beijing, usually during UNOmaha breaks. The
very different systems.”
program was funded by the China National
Petroleum Company, which underwrote the costs
To cap off the program, the class was invited to
of the faculty’s travel and lodging.
UNOmaha to attend a special graduation ceremony
in February 2001. Ten of the 16 students traveled
Students followed the same MBA curriculum as
from China to receive their diploma from Chancellor
UNOmaha students, says Sufi Nazem, Ph.D., direc-
Nancy Belck. While in Omaha, the class also had
tor of international initiatives for CBA. “They had the
the opportunity to tour several local businesses and
identical courses taught by the same professors
attend a UNO hockey game.
from UNO, and used the same textbooks we use
10
Mary Lynn Reiser (in red) and
here.” In order to complete their studies in two
The feedback from the class has been “very
staff from the UNOmaha Center
years, students attended classes full time.
positive,” says Nazem. And besides gaining a new
for Economic Education and
perspective on international business, the students
UNOmaha International Studies
The class was interested in all aspects of manage-
have also enhanced their professional careers.
and Programs with Ukranian
ment practice in American business including
Since completing the program, all the students have
educators. The group was
finance, marketing, use of technology and
been promoted to senior management positions in
honored at a November 13,
corporate strategy, Nazem says, but was especially
their companies.
2000, luncheon at the university.
FINANCE,
BANKING & LAW
More and more students are realizing
the power of on-the-job experience,
thanks to the many organizations
who participate in the CBA internship
program. In fact, the program grew
approximately 25% in 2000, over 1999
— teaming up 160 students with
nearly 100 area companies.
INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
GROWS
Central States of
Omaha
Carla Mackie
Corporate Finance
Association
Carlos Arango
First National Bank of
Omaha
Tanya Judkins
Keystone Group
Michael Chalmers
ACCOUNTING
2000 CBA
Internship
Partners
Thank you to
all our intern
sponsors who
hosted these
students during the year:
Air Force Audit
Agency
Jonathan Bareuther
Kerry Baumgart
Cory Libis
ConAgra Global
Trade Center
COBRA Outsourcing
Company
Brad Yoder
Mutual of Omaha
Troy White
ConAgra Foods
Ikechi Chima
Norwest Bank/Wells
Fargo
Christie Woodrich
Deloitte & Touche
Mark Blair
Sheri Gunderson
Tae Ahn Hyoung
Curtis Johnson
Farm Credit Services
Amanda O’Boyle
Trancentrix
Robert L. Johnson
First Data Corporation
Amanda Leon
Frankel Zacharia, et. al.
Tim Clark
Inacom
Meghan Fitzpatrick
Lodwig Enterprises, Inc.
Andrew Reick
MEGA Corporation
Tanya Luken
Milton Sartin, CPA
Clare Morris
ConAgra related to his majors. “Our goal is
to get Ike as much experience as possible in
several areas of accounting and finance,”
Yeutter says. “The more he can experience
and the more he can see, the better.”
Rick Ekstrom, CPA
Jennifer Gaydos
Seim, Johnson, Sestak
& Quist
Travis Hutchison
Tara Linn
Speed Port NV
Joseph Rowelinski
Chima definitely agrees with Yeutter, and says
that the corporate culture at ConAgra has
William Campbell Co.
CPAs
Brian Herrera
been an integral part of making his internship
a success. “It’s been great — better than what
I ever have expected. People are very friendly
William H. Harvey Co.
Lisa Berry
Reginna Gubbels
and very warm. It’s great working here.”
ECONOMICS
Want to host a CBA student at your
Great Western Bank
Nick Caniglia
organization? Contact the Dean’s
office at (402) 554-2303.
Mass Mutual
Adam Tighe
Career Solutions
John Londay
Fleming Companies
Adam Gale
John Shimkus
Ike Chima at the
McGrath North et. al.PC
Amy Muller
Modern Electronics/
Arrow Technologies
Jacqueline Millard
First National Bank of
Omaha
Andrea Wilson
Kim Yeutter and
Kirkpatrick Pettis
Brian Spangler
Transglobal Travel
Jayson Amandus
Werner Enterprises
Rodrigo Medina
Denny’s
Matthew Meyer
UNO Bookstore
Bertrail Givens
KPTM/Fox 42
Amber Meairs
First National Bank of
Omaha
Rebecca Frohlich
US West
Ronnette Warren
Kraft Foods
Ayesha Graves
Union Pacific
Angela Palmesano
Anastasia Privitera
The Maids
International
Andreas Frint
Vector Marketing
Andrew Houts
Meridian Advertising
Mindy Conner
WRK Systems, Inc.
Adam Ward
Neil Weide
Methodist Hospital
Russell Rohlfs
First National
Buildings, Inc.
Michael Foltynski
Michael Simons
HyVee Food Stores
Kris Kucirek
Image Building
Communications
Neil Weide
Inacom
Kevin Craft
infoUSA
Molly Moylan
L&M Construction
Ronald Vlcek
L&M Construction
Chemicals
Julie Myers
Werner Enterprises
Kelly Nownes
Mortgage Express
Joy Lohmann
William H. Harvey Co.
Cynthia Guthmann
Mutual First Credit
Union
Angela Lutz
MARKETING
Mutual of Omaha
Shelley Loland
AAA Nebraska
Gretchen Ballard
Angela Tank
NP Dodge
Kathryn Bruening
AT&T
Brian Balkus
Northwestern Mutual
Life Insurance Co.
Henk DeBoer
Lozier
Gary Collins
ACCESS Credit
Bureau Services
Heather Wrenn
Omaha Printing Co.
Ryan Hoffman
OPPD
Valerie Dreesen
Lucent Techologies
Richard Wagner
Allender & Associates
Lisa Halamicek
Pinnacle Bank
Joshua Hagan
Marriott/Georgetowne
Club
Elizabeth Guernsey
Andrews Studio
Gina Zimmerman
Long John Silver’s
Rebecca Overley
Mortgage Express
Jay Uphoff
Bank of Nebraska
Sarah McGrath
Erin Ulanowski
Union Pacific Streamliner
Credit Union
Coreen Jarecki
Mutual of Omaha
Natalie Dubas
Bozell Worldwide
Jason Gasaway
Westchester Capital
Management
Ben Simmons
Northwestern Mutual
Life Insurance Co.
Aaron Frederick
Budget Rent-a-Car
Chad Scebold
MANAGEMENT
NuStyle Corporation
Sarah Koenig
ALL TEL
Amy Ulrich
Ameritrade
Frank Bogatz
Amigo’s
Kim Schryvers
Omaha Beef Football
Zac Kloock
Omaha Property &
Casualty Insurance Ins
Co.
Jacy Feelhaver
Call Interactive
Anne Wendt
Creative Association
Management
Daniel Zaluski
D-Rocks Music
Samuel Ferraro
Envoy
Iva Kiriakova
Omaha Steaks
International
James Brummer
Aaron Kaisershot
Ryan Woodard
Ranch Bowl/Markel
Productions
Michael Wood
SITEL Corporation
Joanna Perkins
State Farm Insurance
Courtney Barker
Alison Wakefield
State Farm
Insurance/Gary Olson
Kelly Guilfoyle
Superior Spa & Pool/
Aqua Enterprises
Logan Hendrickson
UNMC
Polina Poleuktova
First Federal Lincoln
Erin Berggren
UNO Campus
Recreation
Ben Lipsey
PKS Information
Systems
Paulo Fortes
Aderson Santos
First National Bank
Robert Wettstein
Marsha Wright
Union Pacific
Distribution Services
Laura Hinton
Quality Signs
Jeremy Nielsen
Gap
Tammi Ellis
Tomami Ota
Women’s Edition
Carissa Van deWalle
Radiks Internet
Access
Jennifer Welsh
Gerico Marketing
Services
Jolene Horihan
REAL ESTATE
Career Solutions
Shannon Morris
Real Property
Appraisals
Nicholas Dizona
Greater Omaha
Refrigeration
Robin Hill
Casa de Oro Foods
Julie Antoniak
Registered Printing
Michael Skogland
Homer’s
Zac Lorenzen
Commercial Federal
Bank
Ronni Dame
Kari Kempf
Tessa Layton
Reward Walls
Doug Jaixen
Hyatt Hotels & Resorts
Alissa Malek
Douglas County
Assessors Office
Brenda Budd
Royal Homes, Inc.
Nicole Schnieders
Inacom
Jacqueline Houston
Hancock & Co.
Carmen Soltis
ConAgra Foods
Jennifer Huffmann
Sales Consultants of
Riverside
Sonia Macias
John A. Samuelson
Stacia Petersen
Income Dynamics, Inc.
Jessica Simpson
Progress West
Corporation
Don Burkhardt
Brett Cook
Jason Ruegg
Applied
Communications, Inc.
Jeanette Anderson
Berkshire Hathaway
Christopher Beyer
Broker’s Benefit
Mgmt, Inc.
William Fogle
C.H. Robinson
Timothy R. Johnson
Consulting firm
Jennifer Lee
Cox Communications
Susan Grigsby
Omaha World-Herald
Torge Thielemann
Team Financial
Management
Systems, Inc.
Bryan McMullan
INROADS/Greater
Omaha
Ronette Warren
Investors Realty, Inc.
Tiffany Grint
Associated Appraisers
Devon Stevens
Daisley Ruff Financial
Corporation
Justin Brown
Prudential-Ambassador
Real Estate
Ben Weeks
College of Business Administration
15
Accounting Intern Gets a
TASTE
REAL-LIFE
of
STUDENT INTERNSHIPS
Experience
Senior Ike Chima is hungry for on-the-
great,” Chima says. “The knowledge I’m get-
College of Business and from UNOmaha,
job experience before he graduates.
ting I’ll take to whatever I want to do down
drawing a significant number of students
And thanks to an internship with
the road. I’ve gained a lot.”
from the university during the academic year,
ConAgra Foods, he’s been able to get
Yeutter says.
it — and also give something back to
His sponsoring company has gained a lot
the company who’s sponsoring him.
from the experience, too, says Kim Yeutter,
Besides learning more about his chosen
ConAgra Foods college relations coordinator.
field, Chima says his internship has also
The finance/accounting double major started
“Ike is contributing vitally to our company,
taught him important life skills. “I’ve learned a
an internship in ConAgra’s corporate payroll and
just as much as we’re giving him a learning
lot about organizing myself and communicat-
benefits department at Thanksgiving. Since
experience. Our interns are treated like our
ing with my co-workers. A company is as
then, he’s become immersed in the responsi-
other employees — they get paid and do the
strong as its weakest link — I’ve benefited
bilities of payroll, compensation and benefits,
same work — all contributing to the growth
from being accountable and making sure I’m
along with picking up new skills and applying
of our company. At the same time we’re giv-
working as part of the team. I think it’s so
his classroom learning to his new job.
ing them the experience of working at a
important for business students to get that
large company and hopefully teaching them
kind of experience.”
“I’ve been able to work with different applica-
things that they’ll need for the future.”
tions I’ve always heard about, but had never
14
applied. I’m doing it right now, and it’s
As he continues his internship, Chima will
ConAgra routinely hosts interns from the
get the opportunity to work in other areas of
UKRAINE
Visitors Study
WESTERN
INTERNATIONAL
NEWS
BRIEFS
Ways
Last fall, 10 educators from the Poltava region of the Ukraine got an opportunity to
observe U.S. teaching methods at several schools in Omaha. As part of the Partners in
During the fall semester, marketing
Education Teachers Exchange Program, the group took part in a six-week civics
professor PHANI TEJ
ADIDAM, PH.D., traveled to
education internship study.
Finland. He was invited to teach a marketing strateThe program is a joint effort between UNOmaha Center for Economic Education
gies course at the Helsinki School of Economics and
and UNOmaha International Studies and Programs, in partnership with the Omaha-
Business Administration in Mikkeli, Finland. The
area schools.
prestigious institution draws a multicultural student
body and faculty from around the world and has one
The UNOmaha Center is a joint effort between CBA and the College of Education.
of the largest enrollments of any business education
Co-directors are economics chair Kim Sosin and James Dick from the College of
institution of higher learning in the Nordic region.
Education; the associate director is Mary Lynn Reiser.
Adidam plans to return to teach another course at
the school in the summer of 2003.
During their stay in Nebraska, the group observed classes in area schools, participated
in professional development workshops and collected teaching materials for use in their
own schools. They also took field trips to local sites of professional and cultural interest,
The CBA accounting department,
and spent several days as guests of rural families in Elk Horn, Iowa.
together with UNOmaha and the
Academy of Economic Studies of
It was an eye-opening experience for the guest teachers, says Reiser. “Traditionally,
Moldova (AESM), have formed a cooperative
instruction in the Ukraine is very regulated. Their state curriculum is delivered in a
relationship in the areas of accounting and auditing.
traditional lecture mode and there’s not too much variation in the delivery. In the U.S., our
The partnership will aid in the economic growth and
curriculum is about also engaging the students in small groups, group discussions and
development of Moldova, located northeast of
student projects. To the Ukranian teachers, this is a whole new world.”
Romania in eastern Europe. In 2000, accounting
department chair JACK ARMITAGE, PH.D.,
The group took away a greater understand-
spent a week in the capital city of Chisinau working
ing of American education methods and an
with the accounting chair of AESM and other
eagerness to implement ideas into their own
Moldovan representatives.
classrooms. “My colleagues and students
are very interested in the educational system
of the U.S.A. and American culture. I try to
The Executive MBA program
use what I have learned in my courses, and
continues to nurture international
the results are remarkable. I think my time in
business awareness and involvement
Omaha was really interesting and very fruit-
by including two weeks of overseas field research
ful,” says Nataliya Somoylenko of Poltava.
in its curriculum. Management professor
REBECCA MORRIS, PH.D., and EMBA
This spring, Reiser and James Dick will have an opportunity to be students themselves as
students traveled to Siauliai, Lithuania, to conduct
they travel to Poltava to observe the Ukranian education system firsthand.
research for its capstone consulting project. The
2000 team worked with Putoksnis, a maker of plas-
The Ukranians’ visit to UNOmaha and Nebraska was made possible by a grant from the
tic bottles used for soft drinks, oils and household
American Councils for International Education. The program invites educators from NIS
cleaning products. During the trip, the group met
(Newly Independent States of the Former Soviet Union) to observe and learn about
with Kenneth Smith, U.S. Ambassador to Lithuania.
American teaching methods and curriculum development related to civics education.
Omaha was one of eight U.S. cities chosen to participate in the program.
College of Business Administration
11
33
CHEERS
for
ALUMNI
RICHARD HOOK
Vice President and General Manager,
Cox Communications, Inc.
Executive MBA 1997
There’s no better
JOHN BREDEMEYER
Richard Hook has spent his entire career in
testament to the value
President, Realcorp
the cable industry. Shortly after graduating
CBA 1978
from the University of Iowa with a bachelor of
of a CBA education
13TH DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
than the achievements
arts in broadcasting and film in 1973, he
You can count on John Bredemeyer to be a
joined Cox Communications in Saginaw,
of our graduates. In
leader — whether in his company or in the
Mich., as the location general manager. He
2000, three alumni
many organizations he serves. A certified
held similar positions on the East Coast and in
were singled out for
general real estate appraiser in Nebraska
the Midwest before coming to Omaha in
and Iowa, he is the current president of the
1986. Here, Hook oversaw the transformation
their remarkable
Nebraska Mortgage Association, president of
of Cox Omaha to a major area-wide voice,
careers and community
the alumni chapter of Rho Epsilon, the pro-
video and high-speed data telecommunica-
service as recipients of
fessional real estate fraternity, national chair
tions services provider. While in Omaha, he
the CBA Distinguished
of professional certification for the Appraisal
graduated from the UNOmaha Executive
Institute and vice chair of the Omaha-based
MBA program and became a strong propo-
Great Plains Multiple Listing Service. In 1997,
nent of the experience — encouraging all of
Governor Ben Nelson appointed Bredemeyer
his senior management team to take part. In
to the Nebraska Real Estate Appraiser
March 2000, Hook was promoted to oversee
Board, where he is currently serving a sec-
the Cox Mid-America region out of Tyler, Tex.,
ond term as chair. He also is on the board of
the company’s largest telecommunications
directors of the Association of Appraisal
operation.
Achievement Awards:
Regulatory Officials, representing seven
Midwestern states. Bredemeyer is also active
in St. Wenceslaus Church in Omaha, as well
as Skutt Catholic High School.
MARK JEFFERSON
his own firm. He is a life member of the
President, Jefferson Financial
Million-Dollar Round Table and also holds
Services Co.
several financial consultant designations.
CBA 1965
Jefferson is past president of the Omaha and
Nebraska Association of Insurance and
Service to his country and his community are
Financial Advisors and is a longtime member
top priorities for Mark Jefferson. The native
of the Omaha Estate Planning Council. He is
Nebraskan served three years in the U.S.
active in his church, in civic organizations
Marine Corps after high school. He then
and at UNOmaha. Jefferson is past president
earned a finance degree from the UNOmaha
of the UNO Alumni Association and the
College of Business in three and a half years
Maverick Board and currently serves on the
— starting his financial services career in his
Maverick Council.
senior year. In 1974, Jefferson established
12
3RD ANNUAL LUCAS SOCIETY HONORS
Awards
HONOR
Key College SUPPORTERS
November 9 marked the induction
of our newest members of the
George Beattie, president
Lucas Society, a CBA group that
of the Nebraska Bankers
honors some the college’s most
Association, accepts the
dedicated supporters. This year,
Lucas Society award.
a husband-and-wife team as well
as a financial industry team were
named to the society.
NEBRASKA BANKERS
ASSOCIATION
Phyllis and
The Nebraska Bankers Association (NBA) is a
John Jeter
accept their
statewide trade association representing 277 of
award from
Nebraska’s 279 commercial banks and eight of the 17
CBA Dean
savings and loan institutions in the state. The association constantly monitors the banking scene, watchful
Stanley Hille
for new ideas and approaches to help Nebraska’s
(center).
financial institutions respond to an ever-changing
environment. NBA strives to anticipate and respond
JOHN A. AND PHYLLIS S. JETER
quickly to events that have an impact on its member
After graduating from UNO with honors in 1954,
institutions. Priorities include legislative representation,
John Jeter began his career with Arthur Andersen
education, industry promotion and public relations,
& Co. He became a lifelong partner of the firm,
cost-saving products and services, and an array of
spending time in the Omaha, Dallas and Denver
other services designed to meet the needs of
offices. Mr. Jeter has dedicated his time and efforts
Nebraska’s banks and savings and loan institutions.
toward many UNO programs, including the CBA
National Advisory Board, the UNO Alumni
The NBA’s priorities have also included the College of
Association, the Accounting Education Advisory
Business. For many years, the association has been
Committee and the Campaign Nebraska UNO
instrumental in supporting CBA — perhaps most
Leadership Committee. He received the CBA
notably in the area of information technology. In 2000,
Distinguished Achievement Award in 1987 for his
the association provided a generous grant to allow the
many accomplishments and contributions.
college to upgrade one of its two NBA computer labs
with an overhead projector, modular furniture and fresh
Phyllis Jeter is also a UNO graduate, completing a
paint. Previously, NBA helped the college outfit another
bachelor’s degree in Spanish ith a minor in French
lab with new computers, big-screen monitors and
in 1983. Together, they have established the John
enhanced lighting.
A. and Phyllis S. Jeter Accounting Excellence Fund,
which supports tuition and fees for a CBA
accounting major. In time, the fund will also support
a professorship in the accounting department.
The Lucas Society event also recognized the college's
2000-2001 general scholarship recipients.
College of Business Administration
13